Configuring a load control system

ABSTRACT

A design software, e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI) software, may be used to design and/or configure a load control system. The design software may be executed on a network device (e.g., a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, or a smart phone). The design software may allow for easy configuration of load control panels and effortless multiplication of configured panels during the design of the load control system. Each load control panel may have a plurality of control devices, such as load control devices (e.g., power modules, dimming modules, and/or switching modules), system controllers, and/or power supplies. The design software may allow for the configuration of load control panels having different types and numbers of control devices. In addition, the design software may allow for the multiplication of load control panels having the same configuration (e.g., the same type and number of control devices).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/579,033, filed on Sep. 23, 2019, which is acontinuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No.15/436,314, filed Feb. 17, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,423,133, issued onSep. 24, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/296,416, filed Feb. 17, 2016, each of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A load control environment, such as a residence or an office building,for example, may be configured with various types of load controlsystems. For example, a lighting control system may be used to controlthe lighting loads in the user environment. A motorized window treatmentcontrol system may be used to control the natural light provided to theuser environment. A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)system may be used to control the temperature in the user environment.

Each load control system may include various control devices, includingcontrol-source devices and control-target devices. The control-targetdevices may receive digital messages from one or more of thecontrol-source devices. The digital messages may include load controlmessages for controlling an electrical load. The control-target devicesmay be capable of directly controlling the electrical load. Thecontrol-source devices may be capable of indirectly controlling theelectrical load via the control-target device by sending digitalmessages to the control-target device that include control instructionsfor controlling the electrical load controlled by the control-targetdevice. The control-source devices may be configured to transmit digitalmessages to the control-target devices via a wireless communicationlink, e.g., a radio-frequency (RF) communication link, and/or a wiredcommunication link, e.g., a digital addressable lighting interface(DALI) communication link. Examples of control-target devices mayinclude lighting control devices (e.g., dimmer switches, electronicswitches, ballasts, or light-emitting diode (LED) drivers), motorizedwindow treatments, temperature control devices (e.g., thermostats),plug-in load control devices, and/or the like. Examples ofcontrol-source devices may include remote control devices, occupancysensors, daylight sensors, temperature sensors, window sensors, and/orthe like. To enable a control-target device to recognize instructionsreceived from a control-source device, the control-target device and thecontrol-source device may be associated with one another, such that thecontrol-target device may recognize the digital messages received fromthe control-source device.

The load control system may include one or more load control panels(e.g., a lighting panel) for controlling the amount of power deliveredto one or more electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads). Each loadcontrol panel may have a plurality of control devices, such as loadcontrol devices (e.g., power modules, dimming modules, and/or switchingmodules), system controllers, and/or power supplies. The load controlsystem may include multiple load control panels having different typesand numbers of control devices. Load control panels having the sameconfiguration (e.g., the same type and number of control devices) may beused multiple times in a single load control system.

SUMMARY

As described herein, a design software, e.g., a graphical user interface(GUI) software, may be used to design and/or configure a load controlsystem. The design software may allow for easy configuration of loadcontrol panels and effortless multiplication of configured panels duringthe design of the load control system. The design software may beexecuted on a network device (e.g., a personal computer, a laptop, atablet, a smart phone, or equivalent device). The design software maydisplay a canvas on a visual display of the network device for addingand connecting the control devices of the load control system. Thedesign software may allow for the configuration of load control panelshaving different types and numbers of control devices. In addition, thedesign software may allow for the multiplication of load control panelshaving the same configuration (e.g., the same type and number of controldevices).

The design software may display a first panel icon representing a firstload control panel and/or a configuration window for the first loadcontrol panel. A listing of control devices that may be installed in thefirst load control panel may be displayed on the configuration window.An additional control device may be added to the listing on theconfiguration window in response to the selection of the additionalcontrol device. A model number may be generated for the first loadcontrol panel having the control devices displayed in the listing on theconfiguration window. The model number may be associated with the firstpanel icon. Also, or alternatively, the panel icon may be displayed on acanvas and/or the model number for the load control panel may bedisplayed on a palette next to the canvas. The model number may beselected from the palette, for example, to add a second panel iconrepresenting a second load control panel to the canvas. The second loadcontrol panel may have the same control devices as the first loadcontrol panel.

As further described herein, the design software may display a deviceicon representing an electrical device and/or a panel icon representinga load control panel. A configuration window for the load control panelmay be displayed. A listing of control devices that may be installed inthe load control panel may be displayed on the configuration window. Anadditional control device may be added to the listing on theconfiguration window, for example, in response to the selection of theadditional control device. A panel output selection window may bedisplayed in response to the selection of the device icon and/or thepanel icon. The electrical device may be defined to be related to (e.g.,connected to or associated with) a selected output of a selected controldevice of the load control panel, for example, in response to theselection of the selected output of the selected control device of theload control panel from the panel output selection window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram that illustrates an example load controlsystem for associating control devices and controlling electrical loads.

FIGS. 2-22 illustrate example screenshots that may be displayed on avisual display of a network device by a design software, e.g., agraphical user interface (GUI) software, for designing and/orconfiguring a load control system (e.g., a building control system).

FIGS. 23-24 show flowcharts of example panel configuration proceduresfor configuring a load control panel of a load control system using agraphical user interface software.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of an example network device.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of an example system controller.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of an example control-target device.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of an example control-source device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a load control system 100 that may include control-sourcedevices and control-target devices. As shown in FIG. 1, the load controlsystem 100 may be installed in a load control environment, e.g., a room102 of a building. The load control system 100 may includecontrol-target devices that may be capable of controlling (e.g.,directly controlling) an electrical load. For example, load controlsystem 100 may include a lighting control device 112. The lightingcontrol device 112 may be a ballast, a light emitting diode (LED)driver, a dimmer switch, and/or the like. The lighting control device112 may be capable of directly controlling an amount of power providedto lighting load 114. Load control system 100 may include one or morecontrol-target devices, such as a motorized window treatment 116 fordirectly controlling the covering material 118 (e.g., via an electricalmotor), a plug-in load control device 126 for directly controlling afloor lamp 128, a desk lamp, and/or other electrical loads that may beplugged into the plug-in load control device 126, and/or a temperaturecontrol device 124 (e.g., thermostat), for directly controlling an HVACsystem.

The load control system 100 may comprise a load control panel 160 (e.g.,a lighting panel) that includes (e.g., houses) multiple control devicesof the load control system. The load control panel 160 may include oneor more load control devices, such as power modules, dimming modules(e.g., dimming module 162), and/or switching modules (e.g., switchingmodule 164). The load control panel 160 may receive an AC line voltagefor powering the dimming module 162 and the switching module 164. Thedimming module 162 may be configured to control the intensities of aplurality of lighting loads 166 of the room 102. The switching module164 may be configured to turn on and off a lighting load 168 of the room102. The load control panel 160 may also include one or more systemcontrollers (e.g., a processor 170) and/or power supplies (e.g., a powersupply 172). The power supply 172 may receive the AC line voltage andgenerate a supply voltage for powering the processor 170. The processor170 may be configured to control the dimming module 162 and theswitching module 164 via a panel communication link 174. The processor172 may operate as a control-target device of the load control system.For example, the load control devices, system controllers, and powersupplies of the load control panel 160 may be mounted to DIN rail withinthe panel (e.g., the load control panel may be a DIN rail panel 232 asdiscussed with respect to FIG. 3).

The control-source devices in load control system 100 may include aremote control device 122, an occupancy sensor 110, a daylight sensor108, and/or a window sensor 120. The control-source devices may senddigital messages to associated control-target devices for indirectlycontrolling an electrical load by transmitting digital messages, such asload control messages, to the control-target devices. The remote controldevice 122 may send digital messages for controlling a control-targetdevice after actuation of one or more buttons. The occupancy sensor 110may send digital messages to a control-target device based on anoccupancy or vacancy condition (e.g., movement or lack of movement) thatis sensed within its observable area. The daylight sensor 108 may senddigital messages to a control-target device based on the detection of anamount of light within its observable area. The window sensor 120 maysend digital messages to a control-target device based on a measuredlevel of light received from outside of the load control system 100. Forexample, the window sensor 120 may detect when sunlight is directlyshining into the window sensor 120, is reflected onto the window sensor120, and/or is blocked by external means, such as clouds or a building.The window sensor 120 may send a digital message indicating the measuredlight level.

The control-source devices and/or the control-target devices may be incommunication with a system controller 150. The system controller 150may be capable of transmitting digital messages to, and/or receivingdigital messages from, control devices (e.g., control-source devicesand/or control-target devices). The digital messages may includeassociation information for associating control-source devices and/orcontrol-target devices. The system controller 150 may maintain theassociation between the control-target device and the control-sourcedevice when the system controller is integrated into the load controlsystem. The system controller 150 may maintain the association betweendevices to enable control of the control-target devices by theassociated control-source devices after integration of the systemcontroller 150 into the load control system.

The system controller 150 may facilitate communication of controlinformation from control-source devices to associated control-targetdevices using the association information. For example, the systemcontroller 150 may communicate with one or more control devices (e.g.,control-source devices and/or control-target devices) using the radiofrequency (RF) signals 154. The system controller 150 may communicatevia WI-FI® signals 152. For example, the system controller 150 maycommunicate with one or more network devices, such as a personalcomputer (PC) 144, a laptop, a tablet, a smart phone, or equivalentdevice via WI-FI® signals 152. The system controller 150 may be agateway device, a network bridge device, an access point, and/or thelike. Examples of load control systems having system controllers 150 aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0001977, published Jan. 2, 2014, entitled LOADCONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO ABROADCAST CONTROLLER, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2015/0185752, published Jul. 2, 2015, entitled WIRELESS LOAD CONTROLSYSTEM, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

The control-source devices in load control system 100 may be associatedwith the control-target devices using various association techniques.For example, in an association procedure, the control-source devices maybe associated with the control-target devices by the user 142 actuatinga button on the control-source device and/or the control-target device.The actuation of the button on the control-source device and/or thecontrol-target device may place the control-source device and/or thecontrol-target device in an association mode, for example, for beingassociated with one another. In the association mode, the control-sourcedevice may transmit an association message to the control-target device.The association message from a control-source device may include aunique identifier of the control-source device. The control-targetdevice may locally store the unique identifier of the control-source,such that the control-target devices may be capable of recognizingdigital messages (e.g., subsequent digital messages) from thecontrol-source device that may include load control instructions. Thecontrol-target device may be capable of responding to the digitalmessages from the associated control-source device by controlling acorresponding electrical load according to the load control instructionsreceived in the digital messages. Examples of load control systems aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,905,442, issued May 18, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTELOCATIONS, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,417,388, issued Apr. 9, 2013, entitledLOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The load control system 100 may be designed and/or configured using adesign software, e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI) software,running on a network device, such as a personal computer (PC) 144, alaptop, a tablet, a smart phone, or equivalent device having a visualdisplay. Using the design software, a user may select the electricaldevices (e.g., the electrical loads and/or the control devices of theload control system, such as control-source devices and/or controltarget devices). The user may define relationships between (e.g.,generate connections and/or associations) between selected electricaldevices of the load control system. The relationships (e.g., connectionsand/or associations) generated by the design software may define theoperation of the load control system during normal operation. Forexample, the relationship may define an electrical connection (e.g., aphysical electrical connection, such as power wiring) between the firstand second electrical devices, and/or an association between the firstand second electrical devices (e.g., a control relationship, such as anassociation between wireless control devices). Examples of configurationprocedures for load control systems are described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,228,163, issued Jul. 24, 2012,entitled HANDHELD PROGRAMMER FOR LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM, and U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0265568, published Sep. 18,2014, entitled COMMISSIONING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIGS. 2-22 illustrate example screenshots that may be displayed on avisual display of a network device by a design software, e.g., agraphical user interface (GUI) software, for designing and/orconfiguring a load control system (e.g., a building control system). Thedesign software may display a canvas 200 on which electrical devices(e.g., control devices of the load control system) may be illustrated. Auser of the design software may interact with the elements of thesoftware using a cursor 202 (e.g., by manipulating a mouse or otherinput device to move the cursor).

The design software may display a palette column 210 (e.g., a column ofpalettes) that may be located, for example, to the right of the canvasas shown in FIG. 2. The palette column 210 may include one or morewindows (e.g., palettes) that each include items that may be added tothe canvas 200, such as fixtures (e.g., lighting fixtures), devices(e.g., control devices of the load control system), and annotations. Forexample, a devices window 212 may display one or more control devices ofthe load control system, which may be added to the canvas. The user mayadd additional control devices to the devices window 212 by clicking onan “add devices” button 214 (e.g., signified by a “+” character) on thedevices window.

The user may click on one of the control devices listed in the deviceswindow 212 and place (e.g., drop, stamp, and/or drag) the selectedcontrol device onto the canvas 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the designsoftware may display a first device icon 220 representing a firstelectrical device and a second device icon 222 representing a secondelectrical device on the canvas 200. For example, the first electricaldevice may be a control-target device, such as a sensor module or a loadcontrol device, and the second electrical device may be a control-sourcedevice, such as an occupancy sensor. The first electrical device may be,for example, an electrical load, such as a lighting load, and the secondelectrical device may be a load control device, such as a dimmer switch,for controlling the electrical load. The user may make an associationbetween the first electrical device and the second electrical device bydrawing a line 224 (e.g., a straight line) between the first device icon220 and the second device icon 222 on the canvas 200 as shown in FIG. 2.

The user may add a load control panel (e.g., the load control panel 160)to the canvas 200. The load control panel may include one or morecontrol devices, such as load control devices (e.g., power modules,dimming modules, and/or switching modules), system controllers, and/orpower supplies. For example, the load control panel may be a DIN railpanel 232 that may include one or more DIN rail power modules mounted toDIN rail within the panel. To add a load control panel to the canvas200, the user may select the “add devices” button 214 on the deviceswindow 212 to display a toolbox window 230, as shown in FIG. 3. Forexample, the toolbox window 230 may display a DIN rail panel 232 and twopower modules, such as an adaptive dimming module 234 and a switchingmodule 236. The user may select the DIN rail panel 232 to add a loadcontrol panel to the canvas 200. After the user selects the DIN railpanel 232 from the toolbox window 230, the toolbox window may close andthe devices window 212 on the palette column 210 may display a modelnumber (e.g., a default DIN rail panel module number 238) for the DINrail panel 232, as shown in FIG. 4.

After the default DIN rail panel module number 238 is added to thedevices window 212, the user may select the default DIN rail panelmodule number 238 and place (e.g., drop, stamp, and/or drag) a panelicon 240 onto the canvas 200 as shown in FIG. 5. The panel icon 240 mayrepresent a load control panel (e.g., a DIN rail panel) of the loadcontrol system. The user may select the panel icon 240 with the cursor202 (e.g., by double-clicking a button on the mouse) to display a panelconfiguration window 250. The panel configuration window 250 may allowthe user to select the components (e.g., control devices) to be added tothe DIN rail panel. For example, the control devices that may beincluded in a load control panel may be load control devices (e.g., DALIcontrol modules, Ecosystem® control modules (“ECO”), 0-10V controlmodules, switching modules, motor control modules, and/or adaptabledimming modules), system controllers (e.g., processors, DMX controllers,contact closure input/output (IO) controllers, and/or networkcontrollers), and/or power supplies.

The panel configuration window 250 may display a listing 254 of thecontrol devices of the load control panel. By default, the listing 254may list a single DALI control module in the load control panel, asshown in FIG. 5. The panel configuration window 250 may display acircuit breaker pull-down menu 253 for selecting a circuit breaker forthe load control panel. For example, the circuit breaker may be aminiature circuit breaker (MCB), a residual current circuit breaker withover current protection (RCBO), or other circuit breaker. The panelconfiguration window 250 may display an image 252 of the panel, e.g., aDIN rail panel having four DIN rails, as shown in FIG. 5. Further, thepanel configuration window 250 may display a zone capacity block 257 toshow the total number of zones that the load control panel can control.

To add control devices to the load control panel, the user may click onan “add component” button 255 to display an “add component” window 256,as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the user may select “Processor” fromthe “add component” window 256 to add a processor to the load controlpanel, and select “Power Supply” from the “add component” window 256 toadd a power supply to the load control panel. If the power supply isrequired to be installed in the load control panel to power theprocessor (e.g., according to predetermined rules defined by themanufacturer of the load control panel), both the processor and thepower supply may be automatically added to the load control panel whenthe user selects “Processor” from the “add component” window 256. Afterthe processor and the power supply are added to the load control panel,the listing 254 may include entries for the processor and the powersupply as shown in FIG. 7. The image 252 may be updated to showadditional space at the bottom of the panel for the processor and thepower supply as shown in FIG. 7.

The panel configuration window 250 may be adjusted (e.g., dynamicallyadjusted) according to manufacturer design rules defining theconstruction of the load control panel. A manufacturer design rule maydefine that, for example, a load control panel may be configured to havea predetermined number of control devices installed in it. For example,a DIN rail panel may be configured to have up to eight load controldevices, two system controllers, and one power supply. The DIN railpanel may be limited to having, for example, one of each type of systemcontroller. After the processor and the power supply are added to theload control panel, the text depicting these entries in the “addcomponent” window 256 may be changed to a different color than the otherentries (e.g., grayed out) as shown in FIG. 7, and these entries in the“add component” window 256 may not be subsequently selected while thelisting 254 includes the processor and the power supply. The textdepicting the processor and power supply may be deleted from the “addcomponent” window 256 while the listing 254 includes the processor andthe power supply.

To complete configuration of the load control panel, the user may selecta “done” button 258 on the panel configuration window 250. After theuser selects the “done” button 258, the panel configuration window 250may close and the panel icon 240 may remain on the canvas 200. Thedevices window 212 on the palette column 210 may display a model number(e.g., a specific DIN rail panel module number 259) for the DIN railpanel that was configured using the panel configuration window 250, asshown in FIG. 8. Different combinations of control devices (e.g., loadcontrol devices, system controllers, and power supplies) in a DIN railpanel may correspond to a unique model number, which may be displayed asthe specific DIN rail panel module number 259 on the devices window 212.

To edit the load control panel, the user may select the panel icon 240on the canvas 200 with the cursor 202 (e.g., by double-clicking a buttonon the mouse) to display the panel configuration window 250 once again.The user may select the “add component” button 255 to display the “addcomponent” window 256 to add additional control devices to the loadcontrol panel. For example, the user may select “Switching” from the“add component” window 256 to add a switching module to the load controlpanel as shown in FIG. 9. After the switching module is added to theload control panel, the listing 254 may include an entry for theswitching module. The load control modules may be ordered in a DIN railpanel per predetermined guidelines determined by the manufacturer of theDIN rail panel. For example, the manufacturer may construct the DIN railpanel such that switching modules are grouped together above DALIcontrol modules. The entries for the switching module and the DALIcontrol module in the listing 254 may be ordered to represent the orderthat the load control devices may be installed in the load controlpanel, as shown in FIG. 9. After the switching module is added to theload control panel, the zone capacity block 257 may be updated (e.g.,automatically updated), as shown in FIG. 9.

The number of possible entries in the listing 254 and the number of DINrails in the image 252 may be adjusted (e.g., automatically adjusted) inresponse to the selection of additional load control devices in the “addcomponent” window 256, as shown in FIG. 10. For example, if the userselects two additional DALI control modules from the “add component”window 256 (to have a total of four load control devices), the listing254 may be updated (e.g., automatically updated) to have eight possibleentries and the image 252 may be updated (e.g., automatically updated)to have eight DIN rails. The entries for the additional DALI controlmodules may be listed next to the previously-listed DALI control modulein the listing 254, as shown in FIG. 10.

The user may add additional system controllers using the “add component”window 256. For example, the user may select “DMX” from the “addcomponent” window 256 to add a DMX controller to the load control panel,as shown in FIG. 11. After the DMX controller is added to the loadcontrol panel, the listing 254 may include an entry for the DMXcontroller. Because the load control panel may have two systemcontrollers (as previously mentioned), the text depicting the possiblesystem controllers in the “add component” window 256 may be changed to adifferent color than the other entries (e.g., grayed out), as shown inFIG. 11, and the entries for the system controllers may not be selectedwhile the listing 254 includes two system controllers. The entries forthe system controllers may be deleted from the “add component” window256 while the listing 254 includes two system controllers.

If the number of control devices in the load control panel has reached amaximum limit, the text for the “add component” button 255 may bechanged to a different color (e.g., grayed out) as shown in FIG. 12, andthe “add component” button 255 may not be selected while the panel is atcapacity. The “add component” button 255 may be deleted from the panelconfiguration window 250 if the number of control devices of the loadcontrol panel has reached the maximum limit. For example, the number ofcontrol devices in the load control panel may reach the maximum limitwhen the panel includes eight load control devices, two systemcontrollers, and one power supply. As shown in FIG. 12, the user may addmotor control modules to the listing 254 to cause the load control panelto reach the maximum limit. The entries for motor control modules may begrouped (e.g., automatically grouped) together above the switchingmodules and DALI modules (e.g., per manufacturer guidelines), as shownin FIG. 12.

If the user hovers the cursor 202 over one of the control devices in thelisting 254, a deletion button 260 (e.g., signified by a “x” character)may be displayed on the listing next to the selected control device asshown in FIG. 13. If the deletion button 260 is selected, a deletionconfirmation button 262 (e.g., having a bright color and including theword “delete”) may be displayed on the listing 254 next to the selectedcontrol device, as shown in FIG. 14. If the deletion confirmation button262 is selected, the selected control device may be deleted from thelisting 254, as shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 16, the panel configuration window 250 may display awarning 264 about the total load current being supplied by the loadcontrol panel. For example, the warning 264 may be displayed dependingupon the number and type of load control devices in the load controlpanel as well as the circuit breaker selected in the circuit breakerpull-down menu 253.

The user may select the “done” button 258 on the panel configurationwindow 250 when the user is finished editing the load control panel.After the user selects the “done” button 258, the panel configurationwindow 250 may close and the model number (e.g., the specific DIN railpanel module number 259) on the devices window 212 of the palette column210 may be updated to reflect the changes made to the DIN rail panel, asshown in FIG. 17. As shown in FIG. 18, the user may select the specificDIN rail panel module number 259 from the devices window 212 and place(e.g., drop, stamp, or drag) additional panel icons 240′, 240″ onto thecanvas 200 to add additional DIN rail panels that may have the sameconfiguration and model number as the previously-configured DIN railpanel. A number 266 of panels located next to the specific DIN railpanel module number 259 on the devices window 212 may be adjusted toreflect the number of DIN rail panels on the canvas 200, as shown inFIG. 17.

The user may define a relationship (e.g., a connection and/or anassociation) between a load control panel and one or more electricaldevices (e.g., electrical loads and/or load control devices). Forexample, the user may draw a line 272 from the panel icon 240 to adevice icon, such as a fixture icon 270 representing a lighting fixturehaving a load control device (e.g., an LED lighting fixture having anLED driver), as shown in FIG. 19. The design software may display apanel output selection window 274 to allow the user to select an outputof one of the load control devices of the load control panel to whichthe lighting fixture represented by the fixture icon 270 should beconnected. For example, the user may select “Loop 1” of the DALI controlmodule on the third DIN rail as shown in FIG. 19. The DALI controlmodule of the load control panel may be connected to the LED driver ofthe lighting fixture via a wired communication link (e.g., a DALIcommunication link). For example, a plurality of LED drivers may beconnected to the digital communication link in any order (i.e., theposition along the digital communication link at which the LED driversare wired to the digital communication link is not critical). After theuser selects “Loop 1” of the DALI control module from the panel outputselection window 274, the design software may stop generating the line272 between the panel icon 240 and the fixture icon 270 as shown in FIG.20. The design software may display a badge 276 having identicalnotation (e.g., the letter A) on each of the panel icon 240 and thefixture icon 270 to indicate the relationship (e.g., the connectionand/or association) between the DALI control module of the load controlpanel and the LED driver of the lighting fixture.

The load control panels may be connected to one or more electricalloads. For example, the user may draw a line 278 from the panel icon 240to a device icon, such as a first motor load icon 280 representing afirst motor load as shown in FIG. 21. The design software may displaythe panel output selection window 274 to allow the user to select anoutput of one of the motor control modules of the load control panel towhich the first motor load should be connected. For example, the usermay select “1” next to the motor control module on the eighth DIN railto indicate that the first motor load represented by the first motorload icon 280 should be connected to the first output of the top motorcontrol module. After the user selects the output of the motor controlmodule from the panel output selection window 274, the line 278 mayremain on the canvas 200 and may be fixed (e.g., secured) between thepanel icon 240 and the first motor load icon 280, as shown in FIG. 22.For example, the line 278 may change color after becoming fixed betweenthe panel icon 240 and the first motor load icon 280.

The user may connect the load control panel to a second motor loadrepresented by a second motor load icon 282 by drawing a line 284between the panel icon 240 and the second motor load icon 282. The usermay select an output of one of the motor control modules of the loadcontrol panel to which the second motor load should be connected fromthe panel output selection window 274. The entry for the output to whichthe first motor load is connected (e.g., “1” next to the motor controlmodule on the seventh DIN rail) may be changed to a different color thanthe other entries (e.g., grayed out) as shown in FIG. 22, and the outputmay not be selected while the first motor is connected to that output.The entry for the output to which the first motor load is connected maybe deleted from the panel output selection window 274 while the firstmotor is connected to that output. The user may select one of the otheroutputs of the motor control modules to which the second motor loadshould be connected from the panel output selection window 274.

When the user is attempting to connect an output of one of the loadcontrol devices to a specific electrical device, the outputs of the loadcontrol devices of the load control panel that are not compatible withthe specific electrical device may be changed to a different color(e.g., grayed out) and/or may not be selectable from the panel outputselection window 274. The outputs of the load control devices of theload control panel that are not compatible with the specific electricaldevice may be deleted from the panel output selection window 274 (e.g.,filtered from the panel output selection window 274).

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram of an example panel configuration procedure300 for configuring a load control system using a graphical userinterface software (e.g., a design software). The panel configurationprocedure 300 may allow for easy configuration and multiplication ofload control panels. The panel configuration procedure 300 may beperformed by one or more network devices in a load control system, suchas the load control system 100 shown in FIG. 1. The panel configurationprocedure 300 may be performed on a single device, or may be distributedacross multiple devices. For example, the panel configuration procedure300, or portions thereof, may be performed by one or more networkdevices, such as personal computers (PCs), laptops, tablets, smartphones, servers, or equivalent devices having access to a visualdisplay.

The panel configuration procedure 300 may begin at 302. At 304, thedesign software may display (e.g., display via a GUI) a first panel icon(such as panel icon 240) representing a first load control panel. Thefirst load control panel may be a DIN rail panel that may include one ormore DIN rail power modules mounted to DIN rail within the panel. Thefirst load control panel may be a lighting panel. The first panel iconmay be displayed on a canvas, such as canvas 200. As shown in FIG. 2, toadd a load control panel to the canvas 200, the user may select the “adddevices” button 214 on the devices window 212 to display a toolboxwindow 230, as shown in FIG. 3

At 306, a configuration window (such as configuration window 250) may bedisplayed for the load control panel, as shown in FIG. 5. The user mayselect the panel icon 240 with the cursor 202 to display the panelconfiguration window 250. The panel configuration window 250 may allowthe user to select the components (e.g., control devices) to be added tothe first load control panel, as described herein. A listing of controldevices to be installed in the first load control panel may be displayedon the configuration window, at 308. For example, as shown in FIG. 5,the panel configuration window 250 may display a listing 254 of thecontrol devices of the load control panel. The listing 254 may list, forexample, a DALI control module in the load control panel.

At 310, a control device may be added to the listing on theconfiguration window in response to a selection of an additional controldevice. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a control device may be addedto the listing 254 on the configuration window 250. To add controldevices to the load control panel, the user may click on an “addcomponent” button 255 to display an “add component” window 256, as shownin FIG. 6. For example, the user may select “Processor” from the “addcomponent” window 256 to add a processor to the load control panel, andselect “Power Supply” from the “add component” window 256 to add a powersupply to the load control panel. As shown on FIG. 7, the image 252 maybe updated to show the added components.

A model number may be generated, at 312, for the first load controlpanel. At 314, the model number may be associated with the first panelicon. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a model number (e.g., a specificDIN rail panel module number 259) may be associated with a DIN railpanel that was configured using the panel configuration window 250. Thedevices window 212 may display the model number (e.g., a specific DINrail panel module number 259) for the DIN rail panel that was configuredusing the panel configuration window 250. Different combinations ofcontrol devices (e.g., load control devices, system controllers, andpower supplies) in a DIN rail panel may correspond to a unique modelnumber, which may be displayed as the specific DIN rail panel modulenumber 259 on the devices window 212. The panel configuration procedure300 may end at 316.

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of another example panel configurationprocedure 400 for configuring a load control system using a graphicaluser interface software (e.g., a design software). The panelconfiguration procedure 400 may allow for easy configuration andmultiplication of load control panels. The panel configuration procedure400 may be performed by one or more network devices in a load controlsystem, such as the load control system 100 shown in FIG. 1. The panelconfiguration procedure 400 may be performed on a single device or maybe distributed across multiple devices. For example, the panelconfiguration procedure 400, or portions thereof, may be performed byone or more network devices, such as personal computers (PCs), laptops,tablets, smart phones, servers, or equivalent devices having access to avisual display.

The panel configuration procedure 400 may begin at 402. At 404, thedesign software may display (e.g., display via a GUI) a device icon(such as device icon 220, shown on FIG. 2) representing an electricaldevice and a panel icon (such as panel icon 240, shown on FIG. 5)representing a load control panel. The device icon and the panel iconmay be displayed on a canvas, such as canvas 200. At 406, aconfiguration window (such as configuration window 250, shown on FIG. 5)may be displayed. As shown in FIG. 6, the user may select the panel icon240 to display the panel configuration window 250. The panelconfiguration window 250 may allow the user to select the components(e.g., control devices) to be added to the load control panel, asdescribed herein.

A listing of control devices to be installed in the load control panelmay be displayed on the configuration window, at 408. For example, asshown in FIG. 9, the panel configuration window 250 may display alisting 254 of the control devices of the load control panel. The panelconfiguration window 250 may display an image 252 of the panel, e.g., aDIN rail panel having four DIN rails. The panel configuration window 250may display a zone capacity block 257 to show the total number of zonesthat the load control panel may control. At 410, a control device may beadded to the listing 254 on the configuration window 250. The controldevice may be added to the listing 254 in response to a selection ofadditional control devices. To add control devices to the load controlpanel, the user may click on an “add component” button 255 to display an“add component” window 256, as shown in FIG. 6.

At 412, a panel output selection window may be displayed. For example,as shown in FIG. 19, the panel output selection window 274 may bedisplayed in response to selection of a device icon (such as fixtureicon 270, shown on FIG. 19) representing an electrical device (e.g., alighting fixture having a load control device) and/or a panel icon 240(such as panel icon 240, shown on FIG. 19) representing a load controlpanel. The panel output selection window 274 may be displayed to allowthe user to select an output of one of the load control devices of theload control panel to which the lighting fixture represented by thefixture icon 270 should be connected. The electrical device (e.g.,represented by fixture icon 270) may be associated with the output ofthe selected load control device of the load control panel (e.g.,represented by the panel icon 240), at 416. The panel configurationprocedure 400 may end at 416.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating an example network device 500 asdescribed herein. For example, the network device 500 may be thecomputer 144 or another computing device. The network device 500 mayinclude a control circuit 502 for controlling the functionality of thenetwork device 500. The control circuit 502 may include one or moregeneral purpose processors, special purpose processors, conventionalprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessors,integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD), applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. The control circuit502 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control,input/output processing, or any other functionality that enables thenetwork device 500 to perform as described herein. The control circuit502 may store information in and/or retrieve information from the memory504. The memory 504 may include a non-removable memory and/or aremovable memory. The non-removable memory may include random-accessmemory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type ofnon-removable memory storage. The removable memory may include asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memory stick, a memory card, orany other type of removable memory.

The network device 500 may include a communications circuit 508 fortransmitting and/or receiving information. The communications circuit508 may perform wireless and/or wired communications. The communicationscircuit 508 may include an RF transceiver or other circuit capable ofperforming wireless communications via an antenna. Communicationscircuit 508 may be in communication with control circuit 502 fortransmitting and/or receiving information.

The control circuit 502 may be in communication with a display 506 forproviding information to a user. The processor 502 and/or the display506 may generate GUIs for being displayed on the network device 500. Thedisplay 506 and the control circuit 502 may be in two-way communication,as the display 506 may include a touch screen module capable ofreceiving information from a user and providing such information to thecontrol circuit 502. The network device 500 may include an actuator 512(e.g., one or more buttons) that may be actuated by a user tocommunicate user selections to the control circuit 502.

Each of the modules within the network device 500 may be powered by apower source 510. The power source 510 may include an AC power supply orDC power supply, for example. The power source 510 may generate a supplyvoltage Vcc for powering the modules within the network device 500.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating an example system controller 600(such as system controller 150, described herein). The system controller600 may include a control circuit 602 for controlling the functionalityof the system controller 600. The control circuit 602 may include one ormore general purpose processors, special purpose processors,conventional processors, digital signal processors (DSPs),microprocessors, integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD),application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. Thecontrol circuit 602 may perform signal coding, data processing, powercontrol, input/output processing, or any other functionality thatenables the system controller 600 to perform as described herein. Thecontrol circuit 602 may store information in and/or retrieve informationfrom the memory 604. The memory 604 may include a non-removable memoryand/or a removable memory. The non-removable memory may includerandom-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or anyother type of non-removable memory storage. The removable memory mayinclude a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memory stick, amemory card, or any other type of removable memory.

The system controller 600 may include a communications circuit 606 fortransmitting and/or receiving information. The communications circuit606 may perform wireless and/or wired communications. The systemcontroller 600 may also, or alternatively, include a communicationscircuit 608 for transmitting and/or receiving information. Thecommunications circuit 606 may perform wireless and/or wiredcommunications. Communications circuits 606 and 608 may be incommunication with control circuit 602. The communications circuits 606and 608 may include RF transceivers or other communications modulescapable of performing wireless communications via an antenna. Thecommunications circuit 606 and communications circuit 608 may be capableof performing communications via the same communication channels ordifferent communication channels. For example, the communicationscircuit 606 may be capable of communicating (e.g., with a networkdevice, over a network, etc.) via a wireless communication channel(e.g., BLUETOOTH®, near field communication (NFC), WIFI®, WI-MAX®,cellular, etc.) and the communications circuit 608 may be capable ofcommunicating (e.g., with control devices and/or other devices in theload control system) via another wireless communication channel (e.g.,WI-FI® or a proprietary communication channel, such as CLEAR CONNECT™).

The control circuit 602 may be in communication with an LED indicator612 for providing indications to a user. The control circuit 602 may bein communication with an actuator 614 (e.g., one or more buttons) thatmay be actuated by a user to communicate user selections to the controlcircuit 602. For example, the actuator 614 may be actuated to put thecontrol circuit 602 in an association mode and/or communicateassociation messages from the system controller 600.

Each of the modules within the system controller 600 may be powered by apower source 610. The power source 610 may include an AC power supply orDC power supply, for example. The power source 610 may generate a supplyvoltage Vcc for powering the modules within the system controller 600.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating an example control-targetdevice, e.g., a load control device 700, as described herein. The loadcontrol device 700 may be a dimmer switch, an electronic switch, anelectronic ballast for lamps, an LED driver for LED light sources, an ACplug-in load control device, a temperature control device (e.g., athermostat), a motor drive unit for a motorized window treatment, orother load control device. The load control device 700 may include acommunications circuit 702. The communications circuit 702 may include areceiver, an RF transceiver, or other communications module capable ofperforming wired and/or wireless communications via communications link710. The communications circuit 702 may be in communication with controlcircuit 704. The control circuit 704 may include one or more generalpurpose processors, special purpose processors, conventional processors,digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessors, integrated circuits,a programmable logic device (PLD), application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), or the like. The control circuit 704 may performsignal coding, data processing, power control, input/output processing,or any other functionality that enables the load control device 700 toperform as described herein.

The control circuit 704 may store information in and/or retrieveinformation from the memory 706. For example, the memory 706 maymaintain a registry of associated control devices and/or controlconfiguration instructions. The memory 706 may include a non-removablememory and/or a removable memory. The load control circuit 708 mayreceive instructions from the control circuit 704 and may control theelectrical load 716 based on the received instructions. The load controlcircuit 708 may send status feedback to the control circuit 704regarding the status of the electrical load 716. The load controlcircuit 708 may receive power via the hot connection 712 and the neutralconnection 714 and may provide an amount of power to the electrical load716. The electrical load 716 may include any type of electrical load.

The control circuit 704 may be in communication with an actuator 718(e.g., one or more buttons) that may be actuated by a user tocommunicate user selections to the control circuit 704. For example, theactuator 718 may be actuated to put the control circuit 704 in anassociation mode and/or communicate association messages from the loadcontrol device 700.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating an example control-source device800 as described herein. The control-source device 800 may be a remotecontrol device, an occupancy sensor, a daylight sensor, a window sensor,a temperature sensor, and/or the like. The control-source device 800 mayinclude a control circuit 802 for controlling the functionality of thecontrol-source device 800. The control circuit 802 may include one ormore general purpose processors, special purpose processors,conventional processors, digital signal processors (DSPs),microprocessors, integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD),application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. Thecontrol circuit 802 may perform signal coding, data processing, powercontrol, input/output processing, or any other functionality thatenables the control-source device 800 to perform as described herein.

The control circuit 802 may be in communication with an actuator 814(e.g., one or more buttons) that may be actuated by a user tocommunicate user selections to the control circuit 802. For example, theactuator 814 may be actuated to put the control circuit 802 in anassociation mode and/or communicate association messages from thecontrol-source device 800. The control circuit 802 may store informationin and/or retrieve information from the memory 804. The memory 804 mayinclude a non-removable memory and/or a removable memory, as describedherein.

The control-source device 800 may include a communications circuit 808for transmitting and/or receiving information. The communicationscircuit 808 may transmit and/or receive information via wired and/orwireless communications. The communications circuit 808 may include atransmitter, an RF transceiver, or other circuit capable of performingwired and/or wireless communications. The communications circuit 808 maybe in communication with control circuit 802 for transmitting and/orreceiving information.

The control circuit 802 may be in communication with an input circuit806. The input circuit 806 may include an actuator (e.g., one or morebuttons) or a sensor circuit (e.g., an occupancy sensor circuit, adaylight sensor circuit, or a temperature sensor circuit) for receivinginput that may be sent to a device for controlling an electrical load.For example, the control-source device may receive input from the inputcircuit 806 to put the control circuit 802 in an association mode and/orcommunicate association messages from the control-source device. Thecontrol circuit 802 may receive information from the input circuit 806(e.g. , an indication that a button has been actuated or sensedinformation). Each of the modules within the control-source device 800may be powered by a power source 810.

Although features and elements are described herein in particularcombinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in anycombination with the other features and elements. The methods describedherein may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andtangible/non-transitory computer-readable storage media. Examples oftangible/non-transitory computer-readable storage media include, but arenot limited to, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM),removable disks, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digitalversatile disks (DVDs).

1. A method of configuring a load control system using a graphical userinterface, the method comprising: displaying by at least one processor afirst panel icon representing a first load control panel; responsive todetermining a selection of the first panel icon, displaying by the atleast one processor a configuration window for the first load controlpanel; displaying by the at least one processor on the configurationwindow a listing of control devices that are to be installed in thefirst load control panel; adding by the at least one processor anadditional control device to the listing on the configuration window inresponse to a selection of an additional control device; generating bythe at least one processor a model number for the first load controlpanel having the control devices displayed in the listing on theconfiguration window; and associating by the at least one processor themodel number with the first panel icon.